[OVERVIEW]
Garchomp comes with a great stat spread; most importantly, its base 102 Speed which allows it to run multiple sets, outspeed and defeat top-tier threats such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir. Its high Attack stat and solid offensive typing lets it KO a lot of Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Aegislash, Magearna, and Mega Venusaur. Its power can be further upgraded with Choice Band and Z-Crystals. It has a great movepool with reliable STAB moves in Outrage and Earthquake, Poison Jab to strike Fairy-types like Mega Gardevoir, and Fire Fang and Fire Blast to KO the Pokemon, mostly Steel-types, that are weak to Fire and aren't hit super effectively by Earthquake and Outrage such as Kartana and Ferrothorn. Rough Skin offers chip damage that helps it in defeating F.E.A.R. Aron. Garchomp's great offensive typing lets it defeat the ever-so-common Fire-, Steel-, and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Magearna, Zygarde-C, Aegislash, and Kommo-o. With an immunity to Electric, key resistances to Fire- and Rock-type moves, which are used by powerful attackers such as Mega Charizard Y and Crustle, and above-average bulk, Garchomp is capable of surviving some powerful non-super effective attacks like Pin Missile from Mega Heracross. Garchomp also has a mega evolution which turns it into a bulky powerhouse which can defeat a lot of Pokemon that threaten its regular forme such as Electrium Z Magnezone, Donphan, and bulky Primarina. Garchomp's ability to run multiple sets with success makes it hard to predict. However, its 4x weakness to Ice makes it vulnerable to Ice-type attacks carried by common threats such as Porygon-Z, Genesect, Mega Gyarados, and Greninja. Its typing also leaves it weak to Fairy-type Pokemon of whose advantage can be taken by bulky Fairy-type Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Mega Altaria. It is left outsped by some hard-hitters like Mega Pinsir and Mega Lucario which can one-shot regular Garchomp. Although it can defeat some Dragon-type Pokemon such as non Choice Scarf Haxorus and Zygarde with Choice Band and Dragonium Z, it loses to Dragonite, and Naganadel. The former can survive a hit and OHKO back while the latter outspeeds and OHKOs.
[SET]
name: SubTonic Rage
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Substitute
item: Groundium Z
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance increases Garchomp's Attack which makes Tectonic Rage even more powerful which can be used against Mega Venusaur, and Chansey to power up its moves before attacking. Earthquake as the Ground-type STAB lets it defeat Aegislash, non Reversal Blaziken, and Excadrill. With Tectonic Rage, Garchomp can also defeat Defensive Mega Metagross as well as the faster variant without Ice Punch, Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Curse Mega Aggron. Rock Tomb as a speed control move lets it defeat Mega Charizard X if it doesn't mega evolve in order to avoid super effective Dragon- or Ground-Type damage. Substitute helps in scouting for moves, blocking status moves like Sleep Powder, Charm, from Mega Venusaur, and Chansey respectively, taking Z-Moves like Tectonic Rage from Landorus-T, rechargeable moves from Mega Blastoise and Meloetta, and in blocking Counter from Sawk, Crustle, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed EVs investment with a Jolly nature allow Garchomp to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding as many Pokemon as possible including Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Gardevoir, Landorus-T, and Landorus. Groundium Z upgrades Earthquake's power into a devastating 180 Base Powered Tectonic Rage. Rough Skin as the ability provides chip damage against contact move attackers.
Usage Tips
========
With Groundium Z, Garchomp can be sent against Pokemon like Mega Charizard X, Mega Venusaur, Magearna, Mega Gardevoir, non Choice Specs Tapu Fini, and Curse Mega Aggron. Garchomp is vulnerable to Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan, Pokemon with Ice-type Attacks such as Porygon-Z and Greninja and some of the faster Pokemon like Mega Lopunny, so avoid sending it against them. Against Charizard, start with Substitute to block Counter and scout for the mega evolution forme, avoiding potentially lose against Mega Charizard X if you use the wrong attack against the wrong form. Mega Charizard can be KOed with Rock Tomb. If it turns out to be offensive Mega Charizard X and it mega evolves then KO it with Tectonic Rage. If they do not mega evolve and Dragon Dance, use Rock Tomb until they break Garchomp's Substitute and then finish them off with Tectonic Rage. Substitute should be mostly used in conjunction to Substitute for additional safety from status moves.
Team Options
========
Powerful Special Attackers can help Garchomp with physically bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Mega Gyarados; for example, bulky Mega Charizard Y with Flame Charge; in addition to these it also checks Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Greninja which threaten Garchomp. Garchomp in return checks Meloetta, Chansey, and Crustle for supporting Mega Charizard Y. Curse Mega Aggron is a great team option for Garchomp as it can defeat Tapu Lele, Offensive Mega Metagross with Ice Punch, Mega Altaria, Greninja, Mega Lopunny, Mega Mawile, and some Sturdy Pokemon like Golem and Donphan. Sturdy and Fairy-types also trouble Garchomp; Fairium Z Magearna defeats Mega Gyarados, Tapu Lele, Mega Altaria, Porygon-Z and Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem, turning out to be another great partner for Garchomp. At the same time, Garchomp checks Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Zygarde-C, Mega Venusaur, and Chansey which can be troublesome for Magearna.
[SET]
name: Devastating Drake
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Rock Tomb / Fire Blast / Earthquake
move 4: Substitute
item: Dragonium Z
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance increases Garchomp's Attack which makes its Devastating Drake even more powerful which can be used against Mega Venusaur and Rest Mega Slowbro to power up its moves before attacking. Outrage is a powerful Dragon-type STAB which hits Dragon and the non-resisted types with massive damage. With Devastating Drake, Garchomp can defeat the likes of bulky versions of both Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y, non-bulk invested Dragonite, Zygarde-C, Kommo-o, and Landorus-T. Rock Tomb can be used as a speed control move lets it defeat Mega Charizard X more reliably. Fire Blast provides Garchomp Fire-type coverage to defeat Durant, Non-Choice Scarf Excadrill, Kartana, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor and gives it a chance of defeating Electrium Z Magnezone. Earthquake can help Garchomp beat Aegislash and Excadrill. Substitute helps in scouting for moves, blocking status moves like Sleep Powder, Charm, and Yawn from Mega Venusaur, and Chansey respectively; taking Z-Moves like Tectonic Rage from Landorus-T; rechargeable moves from Mega Blastoise and Meloetta, and in blocking Counter from Sawk, Crustle, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed EVs investment with a Naive nature allow Garchomp to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding as many Pokemon as possible including Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Landorus-T, and Landorus. Outrage is boosted to a sky-rocketing 190 Base Power Devastating Drake by Dragonium Z. Rough Skin provides chip damage against contact move attackers.
Usage Tips
========
With Dragonium Z, Garchomp can be sent against Pokemon like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, non-bulk invested Dragonite, Zygarde-C, and Landorus-T. Garchomp is vulnerable to Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan, Pokemon with Ice-type Attacks such as Porygon-Z and Greninja and some of the faster Pokemon like Mega Lopunny so avoid sending it against them. Against Charizard, start with Substitute to block Counter and scout for the mega evolution forme. Mega Charizard can be KOed with Devastating Drake followed by Earthquake. If it turns out to be offensive Mega Charizard X and it mega evolves then KO it with Devastating Drake. If they do not mega evolve and Dragon Dance, use Rock Tomb until they break Garchomp's Substitute and then finish them off with Devastating Drake. Substitute should be mostly used in conjunction to Substitute for additional safety from status moves. When matched up against Donphan, always start with Fire Blast as getting a burn to survive a Tectonic Rage or blocking Counter is the best option for Garchomp to win and follow up with Devastating Drake.
Team Options
========
Powerful Special Attackers can help Garchomp with physically bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Mega Gyarados; for example bulky Mega Charizard Y with Flame Charge; in addition to these it also checks Porygon-Z, Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Greninja which threaten Garchomp. Garchomp in return checks Zygarde-C, Meloetta, Chansey, and Crustle for supporting Mega Charizard Y. Curse Mega Aggron is a great team option for Garchomp as it can defeat Tapu Lele, Offensive Mega Metagross, Mega Altaria, Greninja, Mega Lopunny, Mega Mawile, and some Sturdy Pokemon like Golem and Donphan. Sturdy and Fairy-types also trouble Garchomp; Fairium Z Magearna defeats Mega Gyarados, Tapu Lele, Mega Altaria, Porygon-Z and Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan, turning out to be another great partner for Garchomp. At the same time, Garchomp checks Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Zygarde-C, Mega Venusaur, and Chansey which can be troublesome for Magearna.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Fire Fang / Stone Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Outrage is Garchomp's most powerful STAB move and hits all the Dragon-types such as Mega Charizard X, Zygarde-C, and Kommo-o super effectively and deals massive damage to Pokemon that do not resist it. It also has a minimal opportunity cost as in most battles, Garchomp won't get confused. Earthquake hits Steel-, Poison-, Electric-, and Rock-types super effectively and other types that resist Outrage neutrally, allowing it to KO Pokemon like bulky Mega Metagross, Excadrill, and Blaziken. Poison Jab hits Fairy- and Grass-types super effectively, letting Garchomp KO Whimsicott, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Gardevoir. Fire Fang lets it KO other Steel-types that are not hit super effectively by Earthquake such as Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Kartana. It also comes with a 10% chance to burn and/or flinch the target, which might prove to be useful against F.E.A.R. Pokemon that use Toxic stall such as level 2 Probopass. Stone Edge can be used over Fire Fang to hit Mega Charizard X. It also gives Garchomp EdgeQuake coverage, which few Pokemon resist. Stone Edge can also be used against predicted bulky Mega Charizard X that may not decide to mega evolve, it also OHKOes offensive Mega Charizard X regardles of the mega evolution decision.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature let Garchomp outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, which includes non-Choice Scarfed base 100 and below Speed Pokemon such as Charizard, Landorus, Mega Gardevoir, and non-Choice Scarf Genesect. 252 Attack EVs with Choice Band allow it to hit as hard as possible letting it KO bulky Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Magearna, Aegislash, and Kartana. Rough Skin is the ability of choice to hurt physical attackers that use contact moves which makes Earthquake a guaranteed OHKO against Defensive Mega Metagross.
Usage Tips
========
It's best to send Garchomp in if the opponent has Pokemon that are outsped by it and are not bulky enough to wall its attacks. This includes a huge portion of the metagame, as its base 102 Speed and high Attack combined with Choice Band lets it OHKO common threats like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Landorus, and Magearna. Garchomp should use Outrage against most foes barring if they resist it or Garchomp has other coverage moves that deal super effective damage. Avoid sending it against Donphan, Magnezone, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Aggron, as they are able to take its attacks and in return either wear it down or retaliate with their own attacks. Use Fire Fang over Outrage when facing Crustle, as the opponent may predict Garchomp to use Outrage and OHKO Garchomp with Counter. Fire Fang along with Rough Skin damage from Counter, makes it a reliable 3HKO.
Team Options
========
Powerful special wallbreakers like Choice Specs Porygon-Z or Choice Specs Greninja are great teammates for Garchomp, as they can defeat physically defensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro and Mega Blastoise, which Garchomp struggles against. Choice Scarf Porygon-Z can also check Mega Lopunny and Jumpluff for Garchomp. Pokemon that are able to defeat the highly used Mega Gyarados such as bulky Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Venusaur are necessary and pair up well with Garchomp, as Mega Gyarados is able to KO it with Outrage. Mega Gyarados itself emerges as another great teammate for Garchomp, as it is capable of defeating Sturdy Pokemon and other Pokemon that Garchomp is not able to defeat like Mega Aggron, Dragonite, and Donphan. Garchomp has great synergy with Mega Venusaur, since Mega Venusaur beats Mega Gyarados, Donphan, Magnezone, Mega Altaria, and Mega Slowbro, which defeat Garchomp, while Garchomp can check the Pokemon that defeat Mega Venusaur such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Metagross. Aegislash and Genesect can be paired with Garchomp to scare off the abundant Fairy-types such as bulky Mega Mawile, Mega Altaria, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, which can be problematic for Garchomp. Arm Thrust Mega Heracross can defeat Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and all Sturdy Pokemon, which Garchomp appreciates, making it a reliable team member.
[SET]
name: Mega Garchomp
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Surf / Swords Dance
item: Garchompite
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 172 Def / 80 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Outrage as the Dragon-type STAB hits Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Porygon-Z, and Mega Heracross. Earthquake is its Ground-type STAB lets it defeat Mega Metagross without Ice Punch, Magnezone, bulky Primarina, Blaziken, and Mega Tyranitar, and bulky Mega Mawile. Rock Tomb provides it Rock-type coverage and acts as a speed control move to slow down Pokemon like Charizard, Landorus, Mega Pinsir, Heatran, Sawk, and Mega Diancie before KOing them with its STABs. Thanks to its decent Special Attack Surf can be used, albeit of having a Special Attack reducing nature, to avoid getting hit by Counter and 2HKO Donphan and Golem. Swords Dance can be used over Surf in the Mega Garchomp set to defeat Zygarde-C and certain bulky Flynium Z Dragonite sets at the cost of making the matchup against Sturdy Pokemon with Counter like Golem and Donphan prediction reliant.
Set Details
========
248 HP investment increases Mega Garchomp's overall bulk. 176 Defense EVs along with the HP investment and an Impish nature allow Mega Garchomp to survive some of the most potent moves in 1v1 including Outrage from Jolly Mega Charizard X, Tectonic Rage and Ice Shard from Donphan, Tectonic Rage from Landorus-T at +1 Attack, 200 BP Flail from Mega Pinsir, 200 BP Reversal from Mega Lucario, and Meteor Mash twice from Mega Metagross. 80 SpD along with the HP investment ensure that Mega Garchomp survives a combination of Never Ending Nightmare and Shadow Sneak from Aegislash, Hydro Vortex and Aqua Jet from Primarina; Hidden Power Ice from Magnezone, and a combination of Rock Tomb from Diancie and Moonblast from Mega Diancie. 4 Speed EVs help Mega Garchomp in outspeeding Landorus after a Rock Tomb. Rough Skin as the pre-Mega Evolution provides chip damage to attackers with contact moves which can be useful against Fake Out users like Mega Lopunny, Mega Medicham, and Hitmonlee. Sand Force increases Earthquake's Base Power to 120 in Sandstorm which helps it defeat Mega Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Garchomp boasts immense bulk and its advantage can be used in the Team Preview to send it against all Sturdy Pokemon, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Lucario, Blaziken, and Magnezone. With the added bulk, it can defeat them but due to comparatively less power it trades away victory against bulky Pokemon. Avoid sending it against Greninja, Tapu Lele, and bulky Pokemon like Mega Venusaur, Zygarde-C, Chansey, and Mega Slowbro. Mega Garchomp counters Mega Charizard Y, so always play assuming that the opposing variant of Charizard is Mega Charizard X. If you predict Mega Charizard X to not mega evolve and use Dragon Dance or mega evolve and use Outrage, then use Rock Tomb and follow it up by Outrage while if you predict Mega Charizard X to mega evolve and use Dragon Dance, then go for Outrage.
Team Options
========
Terrakion can help Mega Garchomp by checking Porygon-Z, Kyurem, and Chansey. The duo of Garchomp and Terrakion scare off Charizard and lure in Sturdy Pokemon from the Team Preview which can be defeated by Mega Garchomp. Choice Specs Greninja can be paired to defeat Zygarde-C, Dragonite, Mega Altaria, Jumpluff, and Nagandel which threaten Mega Garchomp while in return Mega Garchomp can check Mega Charizard Y, Sturdy Pokemon like Golem and Magnezone for supporting Greninja. Defensive Mega Metagross can deal with Mega Gyarados, Tapu Lele, Dragonite, Greninja, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Altaria which can be troublesome for Mega Garchomp while in return, it can check Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Aegislash, Donphan, Heatran, and Blaziken for Mega Metagross. Choice Band Kartana is another option which can take on bulky Tapu Lele, Mega Gyarados, and Jumpluff for supporting Mega Garchomp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Scarf boosts Garchomp's Speed, letting it defeat fast offensive threats such as Greninja and Naganadel and granting it guaranteed win against Blaziken but without Choice Band's Attack boost, it's unable to defeat bulky Pokemon like Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Aegislash. A Haban Berry set with an EV spread of 248 HP / 48 Atk / 112 Def / 96 SpD / 4 Spe with a Jolly nature and the moves Rock Tomb, Outrage, Earthquake, and Substitute can be used to defeat Dragon-types including Dragonite, Naganadel, Latios, and Haxorus but it comes at a cost of Garchomp's offensive power and leaves it unable to defeat bulky Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Chansey. Fling can be used with the Choiced sets to defeat Air Balloon Heatran and Magnezone. Mega Garchomp can also run a specially defensive set with an EV spread of 200 HP / 52 Atk / 252 SpD / 4 Spe with an Adamant nature to defeat Porygon-Z, Choice Specs Necrozma, Psychium Z Tapu Lele, Primarina, and Choice Scarf Latios at the cost of losing to powerful physical attackers like Mega Charizard X and Mega Lucario. Corkscrew Crash with Iron Tail lets Garchomp lure in and defeat some Fairy types that usually defeat it, namely bulky Tapu Lele and Mega Altaria.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-type Attacks**: Ice-type moves mostly OHKO Garchomp, as it is 4x weak to Ice. Pokemon like Porygon-Z, Mega Gyarados, Donphan, Greninja, Magnezone, Avalugg, and Genesect carry Ice-type moves and are able to defeat Garchomp if they outspeed it or survive its attacks.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Garchomp gets outsped by some hard hitters like Greninja, Naganadel, Mega Lopunny, and Choice Scarf users like Porygon-Z, and Latios which can OHKO it before it gets a chance to retaliate.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Physically defensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Mega Sableye, and Deoxys-S can tank Mega Garchomp's hits and either wear it down by boosting their defenses and healing or KO it with their attacks. However, Z-Move Garchomp can defeat all of the aforementioned threats, Mega Slowbro if using Rest.
**Bulky Fairy-types**: Mega Altaria and bulky Tapu Lele can take a Banded Poison Jab as well as Tectonic Rage from Garchomp and then OHKO back with their super-effective Fairy-type STABs.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Greninja outspeed and OHKO Garchomp with Ice Beam while Mega Gyarados and Tapu Fini can take a hit from Garchomp and OHKO back with Ice Fang and Moonblast respectively.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[charizard8888, 333554]]
- Quality checked by: [[MaceMaster, 302951], [dom, 280380], [<username3>, <userid3>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]
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